Shearing device



Aug. 29, 1944. v A oop 7 2,357,197

SHEARING DEVICE Filed Nov. -20, 1943 H. J ffaad fi/fm W Patented Aug.29, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,357,197 SHEARING DEVICE 1 ArthurJames Hood, Reno, Nev. Application. November 20, 19'43,Serial No.511,145

(01. fil -258) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a shearing device, and more particularly to asurgical cast cutter, and is particularly designed for the removal of aplaster cast from a limb or other member. It is equally adaptable,however, for use in removing other material or sheets in similarsituations wherein the space for introduction of the cutter is limitedand it is important to avoid undue pressure or strains either on thematerial being cut or on the surface supporting the material.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a cast cutter'of theshears type which cuts a channel of appreciable width through the castor other material, whereby it may be readily pushed forward after eachsnip without binding or lifting the adjacent edges.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cast, cutter which maybe employed to sever the material of the cast by the removal of acontinuous ribbon or by the removal of a series of successive pieces.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a scissors-type castcutter of the type described, in which the upper jaw is formed with adischarge chamber of upwardly-flanged shape, whereby the cutawayportions of the cast are readily ejected.

Still another. object of the invention is the provision of ascissors-type cast cutter in which the curvature of the bottom part ofthe instrument, including the under face of the lower jaw and the underface of the lower handle, is such that the lower jaw may be slippedbetween the cast and limb with the jaws fully open and pushed inparallel with the limb without discomfort to the patient caused by unduepressure of the instrument against the flesh.

Other objects will more particularly appear in the course of thefollowing description.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, andcombinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described andclaimed.

One sheet of drawings accompanies this specification as part thereof, inwhich like reference characters indicate like parts throughout.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved shearing device partlybroken away to disclose details of the jaw structure;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the instrument;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end view of the instrument;

Figure 4 is a cross-section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure '5 is a fragmentary view of the cutter partially broken away inoperation on a cast;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the jaws, illustrating amodified cutting edge.

Referring to the drawing, the improved shearing device comprises twomembers I and 2, each of which provides handle and jaw parts,respectively, for the cutter, the two parts being associated by a pivotscrew 3.

The member I has its forward or jaw portion 4 of reduced width and theunder and upper faces of this jaw portionare curved in the samedirection with respect to the handle part I and inclined together toform a tapering toe member terminating in a thin point 5 adapted to bereadily introduced beneath a cast with relatively slight compression ofthe flesh.

The reduced jaw portion 4 is proportioned to pass through a longitudinalslot 1 provided in the jaw portion of the member 2, the slot 1 havingits forward end curved so that the jaw portion of the member 2 comprisesan U-shaped part having sides 8-8 connected at their forward ends by aportion H. The sides 8-8 have their inner walls 9-9 flared upwardly (seeFigure 4) so as to provide clearance for the jaw member 4 of member Iand also ample clearance for the escape of the severed ribbon. The outerside walls of the portions 8-8 may be inclined inwardly on left in theirfull width as desired, the lower inner edges 13 of these portionsforming shearing edges adapted to coact shearingly with the outer topside edges 14 of the jaw member 4, as is also illustrated in Figure 4.The side walls Ill-40 of the jaw member 4 are preferably inclinedinwardly to provide clearance for the jaw member or such portions ofthis member as enter the slot 1.

The forward portion H connecting the sides 8 -8 of the slotted jawmember is formed to provide a downwardly directed transverse cuttingedge 12, this cutting edge l2 being spaced above the cutting edges I3 ofthe side portions B-8, as is well illustrated in Figures 1 and 5.

The jaw member 4 is preferably constructed longer than the jaw member 8,so that the toe 5 of jaw 4 projects beyond the forward portion ll of thejaw 8.

If desired, the lower edges of the side portions of the jaw 8 may beserrated as indicated at l3 of Figure 6, and the upper face of the jaw 4may be similarly serrated if desired, as indicated at M.

The handle part 2, the forward end of which is slotted to provide thejaw 8, is curved toward the handle lfwhich curvature, in conjunctionwith the curvature of the jaw 4 associated with the handle 2.

In operation, the toe 5 will be introduced beneath the cast and bypartially closing the handles I and 2 the upper face I 4 of the jawmember 4 will progressively shear, in cooperation With 3 the under faceof the side portions 88 of the slotted jaw, a ribbonmaterial, ifdesired. Having thus described my invention, I claim:

bers providing handle and Jaw parts, the jaw part of one member slottedto form a U-shaped 'ke strip S from the castcutting edge, the jaw partof the other member arranged to parti 1y enter the slot of the slotted 5the U-shaped cutting edge.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the medial 10 restricted space.

3. The device of claim 1 in which the side portions of the U-shapedcutting edge of the slotted members providing handle and jaw parts, the20 law part of one member slotted to form a U- 30 curved to conform withthe curve of the slotted jaw part.

ARTHUR JAMES HOOD.

